Packaging machine

ABSTRACT

A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RECEIVING CARTONS IN A FLAT, COLLAPSED OR FOLDED CONDITION, SETTING THESE CARTONS UP IN AN OPEN CONDITION, FOLDING SOME OF THE FLAPS OF THE CARTON, LOADING CONTAINERS INTO THE CARTON, INSERTING PARTITIONS BETWEEN THE CONTAINERS IN THE CARTON, AND, SUBSEQUENTLY FOLDING THE UNFOLDED BOTTOM FLAPS OF THE CARTON FOR SEALING. THE APPARATUS INCLUDES A CARTON MAGAZINE WHICH RECEIVES THE FLAT, COLLAPSED CARTONS IN AN ORDERED ARRANGEMENT. A STRIPPING MEANS MOVES CARTONS FROM THE ORDERED ARRANGEMENT ONE AT A TIME SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE SIDE PANELS THEREOF AND INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH OPPOSED, RELATIVELY MOVABLE SUCTION MEANS. THE SUCTION MEANS ARE MOVED AWAY FROM EACH OTHER TO SET UP THE CARTON IN AN OPEN CONDITION. A PUSHER MEANS OF A CONVEYOR MEANS THEN ENGAGES AND MOVES THE OPENED CARTON LONGITUDINALLY OF THE MACHINE TO A LOADING POSITION WHILE CLOSING TWO OF THE BOTTOM FLAPS THEREOF. AN INFEED CONVEYOR RECEIVES CONTAINERS IN AN ORDERED ARRANGEMENT AND DISPOSES THEM OVER THE OPENED CARTON WHEN IT IS IN THE LOADING POSITION. A LOADING SUCTION MEANS ENGAGES THE CONTAINERS TO BE LOADED INTO THE CARTON AND MOVES THEM DOWN INTO THE CARTON AS OPENING MEANS ENGAGE THE TOP FLAPS OF THE CARTON AND HOLD THEM OPEN WHILE THE CARTON IS BEING LOADED. A PRIMARY CONVEYOR OF THE CONVEYOR MEANS THEN MOVES THE LOADED CARTON LONGITUDINALLY OF THE APPARATUS AND INTO PARTITION INSERTING POSITION. A PARTITION INSERTING MEANS THEN PLACES PARTITIONS IN THE CARTON BETWEEN THE CONTAINERS THEREIN TO PROTECT THE CONTAINERS DURING SHIPMENT. THE PRIMARY CONVEYOR AND A SECONDARY CONVEYOR OF THE CONVEYOR MEANS THEN MOVE THE LOADED CARTON TO A FLAP FOLDING MEANS. A BAR CONVEYOR OF THE CONVEYOR MEANS MOVES THE CARTON THROUGH THE FLAP FOLDING MEANS TO FOLD THE UNFOLDED BOTTOM FLAPS OF THE CARTON FOR FINAL SEALING OF THE CARTON.

Dec. 14, 1971 D, G RElCHER-r ETAL 3,626,661

PACKAGING MACHINE 1.5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 23. 1968 INVENTORS DONALD G. REICHERT EARL A. PETRIKIN JOHN A. PASTERIS ARTHUR w. BLUDER BY WW ATTORNEYS Dec. 14, 1971 D. g c -r ETAL 3,626,661

PACKAGING MACHINE 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 23. 1968 FIG.3

wmmzEFzoo Pmmm Dec. 14, 1971 D G RECHERT' ETAL 3,626,661

PACKAGING MACHINE l5 Sheets-Sheet :5

Filed Oct. 23. 1968 1 ||r| J nu l l n l l l Dec. 14, 1971 D. G R ETAL 3,626,661

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. 23, 1968 15 SheetS-Sheet L Dec. 14, 1971 RElCHERT ETAL 3,626,661

PACKAGING MACHINE 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 23. 1968 -m omlx Dec. 14, 1971 RECHERT ETAL I 3,626,661

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. 23, 1968 15 Sheets-Sheet a DQC. 14, 1971 RElCHERT ETAL 3,626,661

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. 23. 1968 15 Sheets-Sheet 7 FIG. I!

Dec. 14, 1971 D RElCHERT E'TAL 3,626,661

PACKAGING MACHINE l5 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Oct. 23. 1968 FIG. l3

I I I Il H Dec. 14, 1971 RElCHERT ETAL 3,626,661

PACKAGING MACHINE l5 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Oct. 23. 1968 FIG. l4

FIG. l5

0. G. REICHERT Er AL 3,626,661

Dec. 14, 1971 PACKAGING MACHINE 1.5 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Oct.

DEC. 14, 1971 RElcHERT ETAL 3,,626,661

PACKAGING MACHINE l5 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed Oct. 23. 1968 FIG. l8

FIG. I?

Dec. 14, 1971 RElCHERT ETI'AL 3,626,661

PACKAGING MACHINE l5 Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed 001:. 23. 1968 Dec. 14, 1971 RE|HERT ETAL 3,626,661

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. 23, 1968 1.5 Sheets-Sheet 1 & 2 3 3 3 Q3 55. 2 II 9 3 mg DEC. 14, 1971 GQRHCHERT ETAL 3,626,661

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct: 25. 1968 L5 Sheets-$heet l5 mm mm United States Patent U.S. Cl. 53157 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method and apparatus for receiving cartons in a flat, collapsed or folded condition; setting these cartons up in an open condition; folding some of the flaps of the carton; loading containers into the carton; inserting partitions between the containers in the carton; and, subsequently folding the unfolded bottom flaps of the carton for sealing.

The apparatus includes a carton magazine which receives the flat, collapsed cartons in an ordered arrangement. A stripping means moves cartons from the ordered arrangement one at a time substantially parallel to the side panels thereof and into engagement with opposed, relatively movable suction means. The suction means are moved away from each other to set up the carton in an open condition. A pusher means of a conveyor means then engages and moves the opened carton longitudinally of the machine to a loading position While closing two of the bottom flaps thereof.

An infeed conveyor receives containers in an ordered arrangement and disposes them over the opened carton when it is in the loading position. A loading suction means engages the containers to be loaded into the carton and moves them down into the carton as opening means engage the top flaps of the carton and hold them open while the carton is being loaded. A primary conveyor of the conveyor means then moves the loaded carton longitudinally of the apparatus and into partition inserting position.

A partition inserting means then places partitions in the carton between the containers therein to protect the containers during shipment. The primary conveyor and a secondary conveyor of the conveyor means then move the loaded carton to a flap folding means. A bar conveyor of the conveyor means moves the carton through the flap folding means to fold the unfolded bottom flaps of the carton for final sealing of the carton.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the invention This invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for packing collapsible cartons and more particularly to a method and apparatus for removing flat, collapsed or folded cartons from an ordered arrangement; setting the cartons up in an open condition; loading the cartons with containers arranged in a predetermined pattern; then placing partitions individually between the containers in the carton and subsequently folding the flaps of the carton for sealing.

(2) Discussion of the prior art Many packaging machines which set up collapsed cartons, fill these cartons with containers, and fold the flflaps thereof have been available on the market. All of these prior art machines have, however, either placed containers in the carton with no partitions between the containers or placed containers in a carton which already had the partitions therein. When relatively fragile containers were placed in the previously partitioned cartons, the alignment of the containers with the partitions became critical 7 3,626,661 Patented Dec. 14, 1971 and therefore required extensive maintenance to prevent breakage and jamming. Moreover, these prior art machines which opened the collapsed cartons have usually been complicated in construction so as to require extensive adjustment and repairs.

When partitions had to be utilized with prior art packaging machines, these partitions were usually assembled out of the carton and then inserted into the carton by hand prior to placing the containers therein. This procedure was not only time consuming and therefore costly, but also increased the likelihood of damage to the partition during assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other problems and disadvantages associated with the prior art are overcome by the invention disclosed herein by loading the containers in the opened carton without the partitions therein and subsequently inserting the partitions between the containers in the carton. This substantially reduces the complexity of the structure necessary to successfully load the containers in the carton and results in lower manufacturing and maintenance costs.

By individually inserting the partitions into the carton between the containers, very little pressure is exerted on the containers during this operation. This reduces the likelihood of the containers being punctured. Moreover, since the partitions are inherently assembled as they are inserted in the cartons between the containers, the separate assembly steps normally associated with the prior art are eliminated. This further reduces the cost of packaging and the damage to the partitions as a result of excessive handling.

Moreover, the invention provides a simple magazine and stripping means which moves a collapsed carton from an ordered arrangement into engagement with opposed suction means so that the carton can be quickly and easily opened with a minimum of equipment. This also results in reducing the cost of production and maintenance for the invention.

The means which conveys the cartons between the different sections of the machine operates continuously, and the cartons are independently stopped at each section. This alleviates any synchronization problems that are normally associated with an intermittent type conveyor system. Therefore, by simplifying the components necessary in the invention, a high rate of production can be maintained while the operating cost thereof can be kept to a minimum.

Therefore, it is one of the objects of the invention to provide an apparatus for filling cartons with containers that is durable and efficient in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of an apparatus for filling cartons with containers so that the containers are not punctured or otherwise damaged.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of and apparatus for filling cartons with containers in which the cartons are moved along a substantially straight horizontal path.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of and apparatus for filling cartons with containers in which the containers are automatically placed in the carton in a prescribed pattern.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of and apparatus for filling cartons with containers in which the containers are handled only minimally.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for filling cartons with containers in which the cartons are set up from a flat, collapsed condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of and apparatus for filling cartons with containers in which part of the flaps of the container are automatically closed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for filling cartons with containers in which partitions are positioned between the containers after the containers have been placed in the cartons.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of and apparatus for filling cartons with containers in which the partitions are assembled as they are placed between the containers.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for filling cartons with containers that is simple in construction and substantially foolproof in operation.

The apparatus of the invention includes a carton opener section which receives cartons in a flat, collapsed condition and sets them up individually in an open position; a carton packing section which receives containers and loads the containers into the opened cartons; a partition inserter section which inserts partitions between the containers in the loaded cartons; a flap folder section which folds the flaps of the carton for sealing; and, a conveyor section which moves the cartons through the aforementioned sections.

The carton opener section includes a carton magazine which receives the cartons in a fiat, collapsed condition, a stripper means associated with the magazine for removing the flat, collapsed cartons from the ordered arrangement one at a time and along a path substantially parallel to the side panels of the cartons; opposed first and second suction means associated with the stripper means and into engagement with which the stripper means moves the fiat, collapsed cartons from the magazine. The suction means engage opposite side panels of the flat collapsed carton and the first suction means moves away from the second suction means to open the carton. The second suction means releases the side panel of the carton after the first suction means has moved a predetermined distance and the first suction means continues to open the carton around a deflection member until the carton is fully opened.

The conveyor section moves the opened cartons along a longitudinal path through the apparatus and includes a carton pusher which moves the opened carton from the carton opener section to the carton packing section, a primary belt conveyor which moves the carton through the carton packing section and partition inserting section; a secondary belt conveyor which moves the carton from the primary belt conveyor to the flap folding section; and a bar conveyor which moves the carton from the secondary belt conveyor through the flap folding section. In addition to moving the opened carton from the carton opener section to the carton loading section, the carton pusher folds the two bottom flaps of the carton positioned transversely of the longitudinal path.

The carton packer section includes an infeed container conveyor means which receives containers to be packed in an ordered arrangement and positions a selected number of these containers in the carton packer section, and a loading suction means which engages the containers position in the packer section and loads them into the opened carton carried by a carton lift in the conveyor section. A funnel means engages the top flaps of the opened carton and holds them open as the loading suction means loads the containers into the carton. After the loading suction means has loaded the carton, the carton lift lowers the loaded carton onto the primary belt conveyor which transfers the loaded carton to the partition inserter section of the machine.

The partition inserter section includes a first inserter means and a second inserter means spaced longitudinally downstream of the first inserter means in the machine. That portion of the conveyor section under the partition inserter section includes a first stop means operatively associated with the first inserter means and a second stop means associated with the second inserter means.

The first stop means engages the loaded carton as it enters the partition inserter section and holds it in posi tion under the first inserter means. The first inserter means 4 includes a magazine which receives a plurality of first partitions in an ordered arrangement and an inserter assembly which moves the first partitions individually into successive loaded cartons as they are held in position by the first stop means.

The second stop means receives the carton as it passes the first stop means and holds it in position under the second inserter means. The second partition inserter means places a second partition in each loaded carton transversely of the first partition as it is held by the second stop means. The primary belt conveyor is effective to transfer the loaded carton between the first and second stop means and onto the secondary belt conveyor when the second stop means releases the loaded carton.

The secondary belt conveyor moves the loaded and partitioned carton into engagement with the bar conveyor. The bar conveyor then moves the carbon through the flap folding section. This folds the remaining unfolded bottom flaps of the loaded and partitioned carton and the carton passes out of the machine for processing by other equipment.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon consideratio of the following specification and accompanying drawings in which like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout and wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the stages of the carton being filled;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram showing the steps of the method of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a partial side elevational view of the carton opener and conveyor sections of the invention of FIG. 1 with the front side panel removed and portions thereof broken away to show the interior construction thereof;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the left end of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 66 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a partial front elevational view of the carton stripping means of the carton opening section;

FIG. 10 is a partial elevational view of the carton packer and conveyor sections of the invention of FIG. 1 with the front side panel removed and portions thereof broken away to show the interior construction thereof;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 11-11 in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 1212 in FIG. 10 and showing the drop table unit of the carton packer section;

FIG. 13 is a partial top plan view of the drop table unit taken along line 1313 in FIG. 12 and showing the drop gates;

FIG. 14 is a bottom plan view of the drop table unit showing the funnel gates thereof and taken along line 14-14 in FIG. 15;

FIG. 15 is an elevation of the drop table unit taken along line 1515in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a partial elevational view of the partition inserter and conveyor sections of the invention of FIG. 1 with the front side panel removed and portions thereof broken away to show the interior construction thereof;

FIG. 17 is a partial cross-sectional view of the conveyor section taken along line 17]l7 in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a partial elevational view of the carton packer section with portions thereof broken away to show the interior construction thereof;

FIG. 19 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 19 19 in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a cross-section along line 20-20 of FIG. 21;

FIG. 21 is a partial right end elevational view of the invention of FIG. 1 showing the flap closing section;

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 22-22 in FIG. 20;

FIG. 23 is a partial pneumatic schematic diagram of the control circuit for the carton opener and conveyor sections of the invention;

FIG. 24 is a partial pneumatic schematic diagram of the control circuit for the carton packer and conveyor sections of the invention; and,

FIG. 25 is a partial pneumatic schematic diagram of the control circuit for the partition inserter and conveyor sections of the invention.

These figures and the following detailed description (118- close specific embodiments of the invention, however, the inventive concept is not limited thereto since it may be embodied in other forms.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS Reference to FIGS. 1, 4, 10, 16 and 20 of the drawings will show that the apparatus of the invention has been divided into sections for purposes of description. The sections are carried by a frame with each section performing an operation on the carton into which containers are placed. The sections are: (1) a carton opener section which receives the flat, collapsed cartons and opens them for loading; (2) a carton packer section which receives the opened carton from the carton opener sect on and places the containers in the carton; (3) a partition inserter section which receives the loaded cartons from the carton packer section and individually inserts partitions between the containers in the cartons; (4) a flap closing section which receives the loaded and partitioned cartons from the partition inserter section and closes the flaps of the carton for sealing; and (5) a conveyor section for transferring the cartons between the above sections along a prescribed path.

The cartons C, shown in FIG. 2, utilized by the invention are of conventional corrugated board construction which will fold into a flat, collapsed condition for shipment and which can be opened for the receipt of articles therein by forcing the side panels P thereof apart and subsequently folding the flaps F over to complete the carton. The containers A placed in the cartons C are illustrated as conventional fiberboard containers having an angled top construction B; however, other types of containers may be utilized with the invention. The invention is especially adapted to package containers Wl'llCll are fragile, as are the containers A shown, without damage thereto.

The frame 10 of the invention comprises a pair of vertical standards 11, 11 and 12, 12, the standards 11 and 11 being positioned on opposite sides of the left end of the machine as seen in FIG. 1 of the drawings and the standards 12, 12' being positioned on opposite sides of the right end of the machine. The standards 11 and 12 mount a front side panel 14 therebetween and the standards 11' and 12 mount a rear side panel 15 therebetween. Cross-braces 17, as seen in FIGS. 4 and 20, join the standards 11, 11' and 12, 12' to form a rectangular frame. It will also be seen that the standards 11, 11' are taller than the standards 12, 12' and extend above the side panels 14 and 15 to support one end of an infeed conveyor, as will be explained hereinafter.

A pair of first intermediate upright supports 16, 16', a pair of second intermediate upright suports 18, 18, and a pair of third intermediate upright supports 19, 19' are positioned on the side panels 14 and 15 between the standards 11 and 12, the supports 16, 18 and 19 being affixed to the panel 14 and the supports 16', 18' and 19 being affixed to the panel 15 opposite the supports 16, 18 and 19. The supports 16, 16', 18, 18' and 19, 19' are taller than the standards 11, 11' and extend upwardly past the standards 11 to carry additional assemblies as will be explained hereinafter. The standards 11, 11', 12 and 12' and the supports 16, 16', 18, 18, 19 and 19 rest on the floor to support the frame 10.

The rear side panel 15 has an offset portion 13 at the left end thereof to accommodate the components of the carton opener sections. This offset portion 13 is supported by the substandards 23 as best seen in FIG. 6.

CARTON OPENER SECTION The carton opener section of the invention, as seen in FIGS. 4-7, and comprises a carton magazine 20 which carries cartons C in a flat, collapsed condition; a carton stripper 21 which strips the cartons C from the magazine 20 and positions them for opening; and a carton opening assembly 22 which receives the cartons C from the strip per 21 and opens the cartons C for loading with containers A.

The carton opener section is carried by a substructure S which includes a mounting plate 25 extending between the upper edges of the side panel 14 and the offset portion 13 of the side panel 15 at the left end of the frame 10 as seen in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. A transversely disposed vertically extending carriage beam 26 is attached to the upper surface of the mounting plate 25 at the rear portion thereof. A like carriage beam 28 is attached opposite the beam 26 on that segment of the offset portion 13 of the side panel 15 connected to the elongated portion of the panel 15. An undercarriage brace 29 extends between the lower portions of the beams 26 and 28 at the rear thereof and carries the magazine 20 thereon.

Magazine-The magazine 20 includes an undercarriage 30 carried at its forward end by the brace 29 and at its rearward end by a pair of braces 31 attached to the offset portion 13 of the side panel 15. The flat, collapsed cartons C rest on the top of the undercarriage 30 and side rails 32 maintain them in position as seen in FIG. 5. By adjusting the braces 31, the angle on of the undercarriage 30 with respect to the horizontal can be varied; however, the angle a shown is approximately fifteen (15) degrees with the forward end of the undercarriage 30 being lower than the rearmost end thereof.

A pressure weight holder 34 is movably carried along the top of the undercarriage 30 and is urged forwardly along the undercarriage by the force of gravity acting on a weight W carried in the holder 34. A component of the force of gravity acts along the undercarriage 30 to force the cartons C forwardly along the undercarriage 30. This component of force is selectively variable by changing the size of the weight W or the angle of the undercarriage 30 with respect to the horizontal. A retracting mechanism 35 is provided to move the holder 34 rearwardly along the undercarriage 30 to refill the magazine 20 with cartons.

The forward motion of the cartons C along the undercarriage '30 is arrested by a check substructure 36 mounted between the carriage beams 26 and 28 as seen in FIGS. 4 and 6. The check substructure 36 includes right and left cheek sills 49 and 50 respectively, the right check sill 49 being adjustably attached to the right carriage beam 28 through a support element 51 and the left check sill 50 being adjustably attached to the left carriage beam 25 through a support element 52. The check sills 49 and 50 are positioned so that they engage the flat, collapsed cartons C along the vertical edges thereof as the weight holder 34 forces the cartons C forwardly in the machine. It will be seen that the sills 49 and 50 and the weight holder 34 maintain the collapsed cartons C vertical. The sills 49 and 50 are hinged as at 47, and that portion of the sills 49 and 50 engaging the edges of the cartons C are spring urged rearwardly in the machine just sufficiently to retain the cartons, yet release each carton as the carton opening assembly starts to open it as explained hereinafter.

The check substructure 36 also includes a pair of vertical, spaced apart slide guides 54 which are positioned between the beams 26 and 28 by a pair of horizontal spacers 55 carried by and between the carriage beams 26 and 28.

The rearwardly facing slide surfaces 56 thereof are in alignment with the sills 49 and 50 so that the flat, collapsed cartons C will rest against the surfaces 56 and the sills 49 and 50 to check their forward movement. The forwardmost carton C in the magazine is positioned forwardly of the forwardmost end of the undercarriage when motion is arrested by the check means 36. This allows the forwardmost carton C to be displaced downwardly in front of the undercarriage 30 by the stripper 21 for opening. The sills 49 and 50 are sufliciently long to still retain the edges of the stripped carton C, yet the slide guides 54 are sufficiently short for the top of the displaced carton C to clear the bottoms thereof during the opening of the carton C.

Carton stripper.The carton stripper 21 displaces the forwardmost carton C in the magazine 20 downwardly into carton opening position and includes a vertically movable stripper plate 58 having a thickness substantially equal to or slightly less than the total thickness of a flat, collapsed carton C and a width suflicient to engage a major portion of the uppermost edge of the collapsed cartons C. The stripper plate 58 slidably passes along the surfaces 56 on the rear-ward side of the slide guides 54 and displaces the forwardmost carton C downwardly out of the magazine 20 and into carton opening position.

The stripper plate 58 is slidably positioned along the surfaces 56 by a piston rod 59 attached to the plate 58. The piston rod 59 is selectively positioned by a fluid cylinder 60- of conventional design. The cylinder 60 is maintained in a vertical position through a support channel 61 centrally carried between the carriage beams 26 and 28 by a pair of horizontal crossbraces 62 attached to the beams 26 and 28.

The support channel 61 also includes a vertically disposed guide recess along the rearmost side thereof. A vertical follower 65 is slidably retained in the recess and is attached to the stripping plate 58. The follower 65 has a thickness substantially equal to the stripping plate 58 so that as the stripping plate 58 engages the top of the forwardmost flat, collapsed carton C and moves the carton downwardly into carton opening position, the follower 65 prevents the cartons C behind the forwardmost carton from moving forwardly into interference with the stripping plate 58 as it is returned to its upper position by the cylinder 60.

Since the flat, collapsed cartons C in the magazine 20 are maintained vertically and since the undercarriage 30 is maintained at the angle a with respect to the horizontal, there is sometimes a tendency for the cartons C in the magazine 20 to tip forwardly at the top without the bottom thereof being moved. To overcome this problem, an alignment mechanism 38 is provided under the forward portion of the undercarriage 30 as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7. The mechanism 38 shifts the bottom of the cartons C forwardly as the top thereof tends to tip.

The alignment mechanism 38 includes a wedge shaped shifting block 39 mounted on the end of a piston rod 40. The piston rod 40 is slidably carried in a conventional fluid container 41 mounted under the undercarriage 30. The cylinder 41 is positioned so that the upper surface of the block 39 engages the bottom of the forward cartons C when the piston rod 40 is extended but is displaced below the cartons C when the piston rod 40 is retracted. This is effective to shift the bottoms of the cartons C into vertical alignment as the piston rod 40- is extended while the stripping plate 58 is in its upper position.

Carton opening assembly.The carton opening assembly 22 receives the forwardmost flat, collapsed carton C as the stripping plate 58 moves the carton C downwardly for opening. Included in the opening assembly 22 is a split, horizontal slide table 66 carried between the side panel 14 and the offset portion 13 of the side panel 15. The table 66 has a rear section 66a and a front section 66!). The table 66 provides vertical support for the carton C as it is being opened, and is split to allow the conveying means to move therethrough and transfer the opened carton C to the carton packer section. The bottom of the flat, collapsed carton C rests on the rear section 66a after the carton is stripped, and when the carton has been set up in an opened condition one side thereof rests on the front section 661) while the opposite side thereof still rests on the rear section 66a.

Also included in the opening assembly 22 is a stabilizer 68 positioned under the magazine 20 and just rearwardly of the position of the flat, collapsed carton C that has been stripped into opening position and shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The stabilizer 68 momentarily retains the rear side panel P of the stripped carton C to initiate the opening operation and includes a mounting bracket 69 carried by the frame 10 which mounts guide plate 70. The guide plate 70 carries a fluid cylinder 71 having a piston rod 72 extending forwardly through the guide plate 70 to receive on the extending end thereof a suction cup carriage 74. The suction cup carriage 74 mounts a pair of horizontally spaced, forwardly facing suction cups 75 thereon. Suction tubes 65 connected to the suction cups 75 extend rearwardly therefrom through appropriate apertures in the plate 70 to serve as guides for the stabilizer 68. The suction tubes 76 are connected through a vacuum line VL to a conventional vacuum source VS as will be explained hereinafter.

The suction cups 75 can be selectively extended by the piston rod 72 into engagement with side panel P of the carton C that has been stripped from the magazine 20 and a vacuum is exerted through the cups 75 to hold the panel P. From FIG. 7 of the drawings, it will be noted that the stabilizer 68 is positioned at the left portion of the stripped carton C as viewed from the front of the machine so that the suction cups 75 will engage the appropriate rear side panel P to retain it during the initial opening of the fiat, collapsed carton C. As soon as the carton C is initially opened, the vacuum is dropped to release the panel P and the piston rod 72 retracted to move the cups 75 away from the carton C to restart the next opening operation.

The component of the opening assembly 22 that primarily performs the opening of the carton C is an opener arm unit 78 which moves rearwardly into the machine to engage the stripped, flat, collapsed carton C through a suction connection and then moves forwardly in the machine to fully open the carton. The opener arm unit 78 includes a generally horizontally oriented arm 79 having a pivot yoke 80 at the left end thereof and a driving yoke 81 at the right end thereof as seen in FIG. 4. A trunnion sleeve 82 is provided around the arm 79 intermediate its ends which has diametrically opposed, vertically oriented hollow trunnions 84. The opener arm 78 is carried by a vertical gudgeon pin 85 extending through appropriate apertures in the pivot yoke 80 and by a vertical trunnion pin 86 extending through the hollow trunnions 84.

The gudgeon pin 85 is carried by the bifurcated end of pivot link 88 and the other end of link 88 is pivotally carried on a vertically extending arbor 89. The arbor 89 is mounted on the left side of the mounting plate 25. The trunnion pin 86 is carried by one end of a drive link 90 which has its other end pivotally carried by a vertical spindle 91. The spindle 91 is mounted on the right side of the mounting plate 25. The arm 79, the pivot link 88, the drive link 98, and the mounting plate 25 define a four bar linkage.

As seen in FIG. 6, the linkage is driven by a fluid cylinder 92 having one end pinned to the mounting plate 25 and a piston rod 94 extending forwardly from the other end thereof. The extending end of the piston rod 94 is pinned to the trunnion pin 86 between the drive link 90 and the lower trunnion 84. The arm 79 is pivoted rearwardly as the piston rod 94 is retracted and pivoted forwardly 16 when it is extended.

A suction manifold 95 mounting a plurality of rearwardly facing suction cups 98 thereon is pivotally connected to the arms of the driving yoke 81 by a vertical yoke pin 96 extending through appropriate apertures in the yoke 81 and the manifold 95. When the arm 79 is pivoted rearwardly in the machine, the cups 98 are moved into engagement with the appropriate front side panel P of the flat, collapsed carton C that has been stripped from the magazine 20. The suction cups 98 then engage the carton C under a vacuum drawn through the vacuum line VL connected thereto. As the arm 79 is pivoted forwardly, the suction cups 98 move the front side panel P forwardly in the machine to open the carton C.

In order to maintain the suction cups 98 parallel with the longitudinal centerline of the machine, a positioning linkage is provided on the arm 79. Although different types of linkages may be utilized, the particular linkage illustrated utilizes an alignment chain 100' carried by sprockets 101' fixedly mounted on the upper ends of the gudgeon pin 85 and the yoke pin 96. To make this arrangement operative, the gudgeon pin 85 is fixed with respect to the bifurcated pivot link 88 and rotatable with respect to the pivot yoke 80. The yoke pin 96 is fixed with respect to the manifold 95, and rotatable with respect to the driving yoke 81. Therefore, as the arm 79 is pivoted, the suction cups 98 will be maintained parallel to the centerline of the machine.

The forwardly facing suction cups 75 of the stabilizer 68 retain the rear side panel P of a stripped carton C until the panels P are separated by the cups 98 to start the opening operation. The rear side panel P is then released and the carton C fully opened by the cups 98. To insure opening of the carton C, a vertically positioned deflector 102' is mounted on the left carriage beam 26 between the carton stripper 21 and the opener arm unit 78. The deflector 102 has an arm receiving cutout 103' in the forward portion thereof to prevent intereference between the deflector 102 and the arm 79 when the arm 79 is fully pivoted rearwardly to engage a stripped carton C. A deflection surface 104 is provided by the deflector 102 which engages one of the end panels of the carton C as it is moved forwardly by the opener arm 78 and deflects the carton C into an opened position in alignment with the longitudinal centerline of the machine. A pair of positioning bars 107 engage the front panel of the carton C when it is fully open to maintain the carton in position.

CONVEYOR SECTION The conveyor section moves the open carton C along a prescribed path X parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the machine and through the various sections of the machine as the carton C is loaded with containers, has the partitions inserted between the containers, and the bottom flaps thereof closed for subsequent sealing. The conveyor section includes a carton pusher 100 which moves the opened carton C along the path X from the carton opener section to the carton loading section; a primary conveyor unit 101 which receives the opened carton C in the carton packer section and transfers the carton C along the path X from the carton packer section through the partition inserting section and into the flap closing section; a secondary belt conveyor 102 which transfers the loaded carton C along the path X from the primary belt conveyor 101 into the flap folding section; and, a bar conveyor 104 which receives the loaded carton C from the conveyor 102 and moves the loaded carton C through the flap folding section.

Carton pusher.T he carton pusher 100 includes a pair of upstanding pusher brackets 105 and 105' which pass between the front section 661; and rear section 6611 of the slide table 66 to engage the opened carton C. Each pusher bracket 105 and 105' has a pushing recess 106 in the upper portion thereof to engage the opened carton C and move the carton to the right along the path X as seen in FIG. 4. Each pusher bracket 105 and 105 also includes a wedge shaped projection 108 which is positioned below the pushing recess 106 and is effective to engage the left bottom flap F of the opened carton C as the pusher brackets are moved to the right as seen in FIG. 4. The wedge shaped projections 108 fold the left bottom flap F as seen in FIG. 4 of the opened carton C up into a horizontal plane as the pusher brackets 105 and 105 are moved to the right. This serves to close the left bottom flap of the opened carton C while simultaneously advancing the carton C to the right along the path X to the carton loading section in the machine.

The pusher brackets 105 and 105' are mounted on a carriage 109. The carriage 109 is slidably mounted on a pair of generally horizontal, longitudinally extending guide rods 110. The guide rods 110 are mounted at the left ends by a member 111 affixed between the side panels 14 and 15. The right ends of the rods 110, as seen in FIG. 4, are mounted in a guide assembly 112. This mounts the rods 110 parallel to each other so that the carriage 109 may be slidably moved therealong.

For selectively positioning the carriage 109 and thus the pusher brackets 105 and 105' along the guide rods 110, a fluid cylinder 114 is pivotally mounted in the guide assembly 112 and has its piston rod 115 pinned to the carriage 109. Therefore, it will be seen from FIG. 4 that as the piston rod 115 is extended from the fluid cylinder 114, the pusher brackets 105 and 105 will be moved to the left along the guide rods 110 and as the piston rod 115 is retracted, the pusher brackets 105 and 105 will be moved to the right.

Since the pusher brackets 105 and 105 are moved sulficiently far to the left as shown in FIG. 4 for the opened carton C to be positioned on the slide table 66 without interference of the pusher brackets 105, the carton C can be opened and then the pusher brackets 105 and 105' advanced to the right to close the left bottom flap F of the carton C and advance the carton C along the path X to the carton packer section. As the carton C is moved along the path X by the pusher brackets 105 and 105, the right bottom flap F of the carton C will also be folded inwardly with respect to the carton C into a horizontal position as will be explained hereinafter.

Primary belt conveyor unit-The primary conveyor unit 101 as seen in FIGS. 4, 16 and 20 receives the opened cartons C from the carton pusher 100, properly positions the carton under the carton packer section for the containers to be placed in the carton, moves the loaded carton C along the path X to the partition inserter section, properly positions the carton C for the partitions to be inserted therein, and subsequently moves the loaded and partitioned carton C along the path X to the secondary conveyor unit .102.

The primary conveyor unit 101 includes a carton lift arrangement 116 which positions the carton C so that the same can be loaded with containers from the carton packer section. A belt conveyor 118 extends longitudinally under the carton packer and partition inserter sections and through the carton lift arrangement 116. It is effective to move the carton C along the path X. A first carton stop means 119 and a second carton stop means 120 are positioned adjacent the belt conveyor 118 under the partition inserter section to selectively stop the carton C for the insertion of partitions therein.

The carton lift arrangement 116 received the carton C as the carton pusher 100 moves the opened carton C from the slide table 66. The arrangement 116 folds the flap F on the right side of the carton C as shown in FIG. 4 as the pusher 100 moves the same and supports the same above the belt conveyor 118 while the containers are positioned therein. The carton lift arrangement 116 then lowers the loaded carton C onto the belt conveyor 118 which moves the carton C along the path X to the partition inserter section. The belt conveyor 11 8 operates continuously and will move the carton C therewith unless checked by the carton stop means 119 and 120.

As the loaded carton C is moved by the belt conveyor 11%, the first stop means 119 is raised into interference 

